Removable wearing surface for rubber heels



July 1, 1941- F. A. w. KELLEY 2,247,555

REMOVABLE WEARING SURFACE FOR RUBBER HEELS Filed Jan. 25, 1940 PatentedJuly 1, 1941 UNITED STATES ATE? FFME REMOVABLE WEARING SURFACE FORRUBBER HEELS 3 Claims.

My present invention relates to rubber heels, and more particularly toremovable wearing surfaces comprising a portion of said heels.

Heretofore, it has been the practice with the users of rubber heels tohave an entire new set of heels replaced on his or her shoes from timeto time to take care of the wear which normally occurs in footwear ofthis type.

It is generally recognized that such wear, in the great majority ofinstances, is located on the outer rear edge of the heel. In almostevery instance the inner central portion and the forward, or throatportion of the heel, is practically perfect.

Having the above defects, in rubber heels in mind, I have designed a newrubber heel having a renewable rear wearing `section which may bereplaced, at the will of the user.

I am fully aware that the above shortcomings of the conventional rubberheels has already been recognized, as set forth in the prior art,wherein it has been attempted to correct the fault by means of the useof vulcanized rubber having a harder or more solid characteristic thanthe rest of the heel.

In my present invention, I wish to especially point out the fact that,in my improved heel, the entire wearing surface may be of the sameresiliency throughout, thereby eliminating any and all hard ornon-uniform areas, which tend to detract from the desired cushioningeffect which the rubber heel user is entitled to receive.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention, is an improved rubberheel;

Another object is an improved rubber heel constructed from two parts oneof which is renewable;

Still another object is an improved rubber heel having a renewablewearing portion which is.

easily replaced by the user without the aid of a Shoemaker or specialtools or equipment, and

Other objects and novel features comprising the construction andoperation of my invention will appear as the description of the sameprogresses.

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the assembled heel;

Fig. 2 is also a plan view of the bottom of the heel but showing theremovable portion partially withdrawn from the xed portion;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the assembled heel, as disclosed in Fig-1;

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Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the heel taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the removable heel member;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the heel with the removable heel memberwithdrawn from the fixed heel portion,

Referring more in detail to the drawing III indicates the fixed portionof a rubber heel and I I indicates the removable portion.

In my improved heel the fixed portion I0 is composed of rubber having asubstantially rigid plate I2 imbedded therein. The rear portion of thefixed rubber heel I0 is provided with a stepcut area extending from thebottom surface of the heel up to the surface of the plate I2. In thedrawing, I have indicated by a dot-and-dash line I3 the vertical side ofthe step-cut surface which is placed at an angle with respect to themajor axis of the heel III.

The material comprising the plate I2 may be metal, bre, or other sheetmaterial found suitable for the purpose.

In Fig. 4, the entire lower surface of the plate I2 is exposed. Thesurface to the right side of the line I3 is entirely covered with rubberexcept in the central portion between the slideways I4. This area iscored out to leave a thin slot I5 within which ts the tongue member I6on the removable member II. The slideways I4 are punched out and foldedup from the cut-out openings I'I shown in Fig 4, through which rubber isflowed in the vulcanizing of the heel. It will be noted that the plate I2 is preferably made slightly smaller in outline than the outline of theheel such that the edges of the plate I2 are hidden. At various points,as I 8, round openings are provided in the plate I2 through which rubberis vulcanized, as in the case of the openings I'I.

On that portion of the plate I2 to the left of the line I3, I haveprovided a plurality of semicircular depressed members I9. Thesesemi-circular members are bent down and are imbedded in the rubber ofthe extension portion, to the left of the line I3, of the fixed heelportion III. The same semi-circular members are provided in the areabetween the slideways I4, see Fig. 4.

The fixed heel portion I0 is secured to a shoe by the conventional nails20 in the usual manner.

At the rear central portion of the plate I2, I

.have provided a raised strap portion 2| which is formed up from theplate I2 under which slides the tongue member 22 formed on the 1Clate 23which is imbedded in the removable heel portion I I of which the tongueI6 is a continuation. This plate 23 is provided with depressedsemi-circular members I9 which are imbedded in the rubber of theremovable member II. Similar to the plate I2 in the heel portion I0, theplate 23 is of a less radius than the outline of the rubber portion sothat it is hidden when the member II is in place with the member I 0.

In the tongue portion I6, I have provided an opening 24. When theremovable member II is assembled with the fixed heel portion IB, theopening 24 is in alignment with the screw 25 which provides a lockmaintaining the two heel members in their assembled position as shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

Preferably, the angle of the line I3 is such that the long end of themember II is on the. outside of the shoe when in use, the illustrationsin the drawing showing a right-hand heel. Thelefthand heel is identicalexcepting that the angle of the line I3 is reversed.

In operation, the removable member II is assembled with the fixed memberI by sliding the tongue I6 of the removable member II into the slot I ofthe iixed member I0 and at the same time engaging the tongue member 23under the strap 2I at the rear of the plate I2. When in place, the screw25 is inserted through the xed heel portion I0 and the opening' 24 inthe tongue IB, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is to be understood that I may use any type of material in theplatesrIZ and 23 found-suitable and that I may use any other form ofclinoher members in place of the semi-circular members I9. The openingsI8 may also be of any size or shape, or if a material is used Which willproperly bond with the vulcanized rubber, I may eliminate such clinchermembers and openings.

It is also to be understood that I may vary the shape and proportionswithin wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a fixed frontportion having a rigid member imbedded therein with a slideway formedtherefrom, a removable back portion having a rigid tongue memberengaging in said slideway, means for locking said portions together.

2. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a fixed frontportion and attached base, said members having an imbedded plate membertherein, a slideway formed from said plate, a removable' backportionhaving an imbeddedplate therein and extending tonguerportion,said tongue portion engaging in said slideway, and means for lockingrsaidbaclr portion to said front and base portion, Y

3. An improved rubber heel comprising in combination, a iiXed front andbase member, a plate imbedded in said front and base' members, aslideway formed from said plate member and a slot located in said frontportion, a removable back portion having a plate imbedded therein andhaving an extending tongue portion engaging in said frontportion slotand slide way, an orifice extending through said front and base portionand through said tongue portion, a screw located through said orioe forthe purpose of locking said members together.

FREDERICK A. W. KELLEY.

